Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

REAGAN PULLED HER rental car into the driveway of the one-story brick house off the quiet suburban neighborhood she grew up on, and turned off the engine. She didn’t make it to Sunday brunches as often as she used to, but with the way memories from her past were resurfacing, she felt the urge to see her family.

Ziggy came barreling out of the house before Reagan had a chance to get completely out of the car, and she stumbled back against the side of it as his massive paws jumped out at her chest.

“Oof, hey there, Zig,” she said, putting one arm around him and petting him on the head with the other. He gave familiar, slobbery kisses in return, and she laughed as she tried to push him off her.

“Okay, okay, it’s good to see you too. Let’s go see what Troy is doing.”

The German Shepherd jumped back down and followed her up the sidewalk, past the well-kept flowerbeds lovingly tended by her mother, and to the front door. Pushing it open without bothering to knock, she walked inside and called out, “Mom? Dad?”

“Hey, hey, little sis,” her brother said as he rounded the corner from the kitchen and tackled her into a big bear hug. It was his thing, those bear hugs, and though she could never breathe when enveloped in one, she loved them just the same.

“Troy,” she choked out, and when he released her, she laughed. “Are you getting stronger? I think you crushed a rib or two that time.”

“I did not. But it wouldn’t be hard. You’re too damn skinny, Reagan.”

“I am not. I’m in shape. There’s a difference.”

He gave her a yeah right look, but before he could say anything further, she added, “Do you know how hard I work out to look this way?”

“And how many burgers you must miss…”

“Oh, shut up. I eat burgers and fries and sometimes even the dessert.”

Troy took her hand and tugged her down the hall. “Come on—Mom and Dad have been waiting on you all morning. It’s been too long between visits.”

“I know, I know. It’s just been so hectic at work with training—” Reagan caught herself before she said his name, but her brother didn’t miss a thing. He stopped walking and glanced over at her.

“With training Evan? Yeah…you and I are gonna have a chat about that.”

Which is one of the many reasons I avoided coming here the last few weeks.

“That’s really not necessary.”

“Yeah it is. Now come on—Wendy and the kids are out back.”

She followed her brother through the hallway and smiled as she passed their high school senior photographs hanging side by side. That seemed like such a long time ago. Another life ago, and really, she supposed it was, because the person in those photos was practically a stranger.

She continued down to the doorway of the kitchen, and when she walked through she spotted her mom standing over by the stove and her father—

“Ahh, Jenny,” he said, walking over to her with his arms stretched wide.

Reagan gave him a warm smile as he took her in his arms and kissed the side of her head.

“Hey, Dad.”

She wasn’t sure why, but she felt the need to wrap her arms around him for a moment and not let go. He let her stand there for as long as she needed, and when she finally released him and stepped back, he looked her over and said, “You keep getting blonder, Jen. I miss the warm brown…much more you.”

“Dad,” she complained halfheartedly. They’d been having this conversation ever since she’d first colored her hair and changed her name back in college in an attempt to put their past behind her.

“What? Is it a crime I want to see my baby girl resemble her beautiful mother?”

“I still resemble her,” she joked. “I can’t change genetics, just my hair color.”

“Speaking of hair, remind me to make an appointment at the salon for this week,” her mom said as she wiped her hands on a dishrag and gave Reagan a kiss on the cheek. “I’m sorry to tell you that grey is genetic as well, but that’s why the good Lord invented hair dye—so no one ever has to see it.”

“Very true. Can I help you with anything?”

“You can go set the table, and let Troy know brunch is ready.”

Reagan took out a stack of plates and then pulled open the cutlery drawer, counting out enough utensils for the seven of them before heading to the dining room to place the items around the table.

She couldn’t remember a time when they hadn’t gathered here on Sundays, the only day her father was able to be there given his unrelenting work schedule. Now it was hers that interfered, but her guilt was lessened by the fact that her brother and his family lived so close by. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Troy opened the back door and walked inside.

“Need some help?”

She shook her head as she finished setting the table. “Just go let everyone know it’s ready.”

“Rae,” he said, and then turned back to shut the door before starting again. “You know they’re gonna want to know what’s going on.”

“I know.”

“Are you okay?”

Of course. I just have a date with Evan to get through. No big deal. “I’m fine.”

“Then why have you been avoiding everyone since you and Bill took him on?”

“I’m not avoiding. It’s been a busy time, and we’ve got a lot on our plate with some new contracts that have come in. You know I’d be here if I could.”

Troy’s eyes remained suspicious, but when the back door opened again and his kids came tumbling inside, he let it go. “Yeah. Okay.”

“All right, everyone,” Reagan said, pulling her eyes from his. “Grab a seat. Nana has the food ready to go, and you don’t want to miss out.”

As the kids scrambled around the table, her mother pushed through the door with her shoulder, carrying a bowl of fruit, and her father came behind with a plate full of waffles.

“Troy, go and get the eggs and bacon, would you?” her father asked as he moved over to the table and placed the serving dish down.

“Sammy, stop pulling your sister’s hair.”

Reagan smiled at Wendy as she too came walking in.

“Hey, Reagan, you look fantastic!”

“Finally, someone with an ounce of style. I’ll take your opinion, not the you’re-too-skinny-and-your-hair-is-too-blond opinion.”

As she said it, she turned to poke her tongue out at her brother, who was now walking to the table with two plates. One full of fluffy eggs, the other with crisp, crackling bacon.

She took her seat and immediately reached for the plate of bacon.

“See, nothing wrong with my appetite.” She placed three pieces on her plate and then passed it to Wendy, who gave a quick laugh.

“Oh, don’t listen to the men, what do they know? Hell, after two kids I would kill to have your figure, and Troy would love it if that happened.”

Her brother popped a grape in his mouth and shook his head. “That’s not true. I love you just the way you are.”

“Oh, God,” Reagan said as she rolled her eyes.

“Hey, it’s the truth. Now pass me the bacon, would you?”

She frowned in her brother’s direction and handed over the plate of greasy goodness.

“So, Jenny,” her father said as he settled into his seat at the head of the table.

Here it comes…

“How has work been?”

Way to beat around the bush, Dad.

She picked up the plate of eggs and shoveled a healthy dose onto her plate. If she couldn’t avoid this issue, she may as well eat her way through it.

“It’s been…interesting.”

Her mother picked up a napkin and ever so politely draped it across her lap.

“Interesting, dear? What do you mean?”

“You know, it’s just an unusual circumstance, that’s all.”

“Is he…working out well there? Doesn’t seem to have the, uh, Rockwell genes in regard to finances, does he?”

“No,” she said through a mouthful of eggs, and then swallowed. “He’s actually great at what he does and seems to be a nice fit for the company. Bill was smart to bring him on.”

“That’s good, that’s good. And his…” her father said, and then stopped as if trying to figure out how to word what he wanted to say. “Personal issues. They aren’t affecting you, right?”

Reagan shook her head but kept her focus on cutting through the mountain of waffles on her plate. “He’s kept it professional.”

“You don’t think he has any idea who you are?” her mother asked.

Not in the way you mean.

“No. Wendy, can you pass me the syrup, please?”

“I think it’s nice that Bill took Rocky on. Lord knows that poor guy has been through enough. About time he had a decent role model instead of the dreadful felons he ended up with for parents.”

Reagan kept her eyes down as the family started to chat about Evan’s parents, not really feeling comfortable discussing him when she knew she would have to see him first thing tomorrow morning.

When Bill had first approached her about bringing Evan on, she’d been apprehensive about the situation. She’d then scoped him out, wondering if the boy from her past would recognize her, but when not one flash of recognition had sparked for him, she’d told Bill to go ahead with what he’d had planned. She could feign indifference in the face of total ignorance.

She was brought out of her thoughts by the swift kick she got under the table from her brother. She glared in Troy’s direction.

“Do you have something you want to say?”

“Do you?” he whispered back.

“No.”

“You’re lying, Reagan. Your neck is all red.”

“Shut. Up,” she said before her father asked, “What are you two mumbling about over there?”

“Nothing.”

“Waffles.”

“It’s so nice to have the family all together again,” her mother said as she smiled down the table at the two of them.

“So, Mom, how’s the new semester going?” Reagan asked, anxious to change the subject to anything other than Roc—Evan.

“I think this bunch of first graders might be my wildest ever. I’ve got Don Riley’s youngest in there, and I tell you, I don’t know how his wife does it…”

Her mom continued, and Reagan found herself nodding along as the rest of her family chimed in about their jobs and the kids’ fall activities. Her mind wandered back to Evan, and she wondered what it’d be like to have him sit there with them for Sunday brunch.

Would it be warm and familiar, or was he so far removed from the boy they’d all known him as that it’d be like a stranger in their midst? She thought she saw glimpses every now and again when he let his guard down, but after what he’d gone through, she couldn’t blame him for his seemingly unscrupulous exterior.

Evan had been through way more than any one person deserved, so it wasn’t such a surprise he hadn’t walked away unscathed. What was surprising was how that made her feel about him—almost impressed by the tenacity with which he was living his life.

Sure, everyone, including her parents, knew that he’d hit rock bottom, but that hadn’t stopped him from clawing his way back. He was broken, but he wasn’t unfixable, and that gave her hope. Hope for the boy she remembered from so long ago.

As the chatter continued around the table and she thought back over the last few weeks and then last night…Reagan knew that she was going to have to get a hold on her emotions if she was supposed to have a date with him next—

“Hey, Rae?”

Her brother’s voice interrupted her thought, and when she turned to face him this time, she noticed his eyes held a hint of worry in them as he reached over to touch the arm she had on the table.

“Be careful, would you?”

She knew exactly who and what he was warning her against without any further detail, and as she placed a hand over his, she gave him a tight smile and a swift nod, assuring him that she would be. She just had to convince herself first.